Mole National Park

About this place

Mole National Park is Ghana's largest wildlife refuge, covering about 4,577 square kilometres of Guinea savanna in the north of the country. It is the best place in Ghana to see elephants, and it is reached through the village of Larabanga. The landscape is scattered trees, tall grass and seasonal streams, with a sharp escarpment along its southern edge. The Lovi and Mole rivers run through the park, but both are seasonal, and in the long dry season they leave only pools where animals drink. In those months wildlife gathers around the water and is far easier to see. The park holds elephants, warthogs, antelope, monkeys and many birds, on land that has stayed fairly undisturbed. Most visitors remember elephants bathing in the pools, sometimes a small group half hidden in brown water, and warthogs wandering around the camp. Tours go out with a ranger, on foot or by vehicle, early in the morning and late in the day. From the high edge near the camp the savanna runs on to the horizon. It lies about 700 km by road from Accra, so many people come from Tamale instead. The last stretch is unpaved, so take a suitable vehicle or arrange transport ahead. Follow the ranger's instructions when you are near elephants. The sun can be very strong, so bring a hat and water. Larabanga Mosque is on the same road.